Murder in Samarkand: Difference between revisions
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'''Murder in Samarkand''' is a non-fiction book by British activist and former ambassador to [[Uzbekistan]] [[Craig Murray]]. The book<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/documents/docs.html |title=Murder in Samarkand — Documents |work=Craig Murray's blog |accessdate=18 July 2008 }}</ref> forms |
'''Murder in Samarkand''' is a non-fiction book by British activist and former ambassador to [[Uzbekistan]] [[Craig Murray]]. The book<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/documents/docs.html |title=Murder in Samarkand — Documents |work=Craig Murray's blog |accessdate=18 July 2008 }}</ref> forms an account of Murray's controversial ambassadorship at the UK embassy in [[Tashkent]] in 2002–04. The tale explains how Murray sacrificed his diplomatic career to speak out against the [[Government of Uzbekistan|Karimov administration]]'s suppression of [[human rights]] and British double standards over torture in [[Iraq]]. |
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==Publishing difficulties== |
==Publishing difficulties== |
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Revision as of 18:59, 17 May 2009
Murder in Samarkand is a non-fiction book by British activist and former ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray. The book[1] forms an account of Murray's controversial ambassadorship at the UK embassy in Tashkent in 2002–04. The tale explains how Murray sacrificed his diplomatic career to speak out against the Karimov administration's suppression of human rights and British double standards over torture in Iraq.
Publishing difficulties
The book was originally published by Mainstream (Edinburgh) in 2006 but only after several battles. Before its publication, many potential readers had been contacted through Internet posts and e-mail listings to raise interest and by creating a body of public opinion, to guard against the publisher being 'bullied' out of printing the book by government pressure. These communications also mentioned how supporting government documents which were originally planned for inclusion had been forcibly removed because of 'copyright' worries. This, despite Murray's claims that many had received a formal release and thus should have been within the public domain. Their forced removal, Murray has stated is the government "trying to claw back the very limited gains in Freedom of Information in the UK",[2] especially attempts to close websites on which the supporting documents were posted instead. Though many attempts to do this have proved successful, media interest has also meant that the documents frequently re-surface on mirror sites.[3]
Cover controversy
A minor controversy involved the choice of photographs on the 2007 paperback edition, two of the three photos having been the same as those previously appearing in the 2004 Lonely Planet guide to Central Asia by Bradley Mayhew, Paul Clammer and Michael Kohn. Neither shows Samarkand. The rear cover of Murder in Samarkand uses the same photo of Bukhara that was the guide book's cover photo. Murray's front cover uses a sunset scene that had appeared on page 7 of the guide (and shows Khiva).[4] There were no copyright issues in this case as both photos were licensed through Getty Images.[5][6]
Movie version
A movie version of the book is under production directed by Michael Winterbottom with a script by David Hare. British dead-pan comedy actor Steve Coogan, best known for his Alan Partridge character, will play Murray.[7]
References and external links
- ^ "Murder in Samarkand — Documents". Craig Murray's blog. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ Murder in Samarkand, preface, page 13 (2007 paperback edition)
- ^ Craig Murray documents — The media catches on *UPDATED*, Blairwatch blog, 11 July 2006
- ^ Lonely Planet: Central Asia page 7
- ^ Murder in Samarkand, back page credit
- ^ Lonely Planet: Central Asia, page 512 credit
- ^ Murder in Samarkand at IMDb